Key points from article :
UC Davis researchers have identified a gene associated with longer lifespans in Golden Retrievers.
The gene, HER4, is part of a family of genes known to play a role in human cancers.
Golden Retrievers with specific variants of HER4 lived an average of 13.5 years compared to 11.6 years for those without the variants.
This difference of nearly two years is significant for dogs and could have implications for human cancer research.
The study involved over 300 Golden Retrievers and compared DNA from those who lived past 14 to those who died before 12.
The findings published in Springer Link suggest that certain genetic factors could contribute to a longer lifespan in Golden Retrievers.
